Dynamic Traffic Scheduler Hierarchy Reshuffling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing traffic management and queuing solutions in networks face challenges in dynamically reconfiguring scheduling hierarchies without disrupting ongoing operations, particularly when adding new queues or moving queue ranges between scheduling nodes, as they often require emptying physical queues or disrupting traffic flow.

Innovation Solution

A network device with a physical queue management processor, scheduling processor, and traffic management processor that dynamically decouples and remaps physical queues to logical queues using a bi-directional mapping, allowing for seamless reconfiguration of scheduling hierarchies without interrupting send and receive operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If physical queues are dynamically reconfigured by adding new queues or moving queue ranges between scheduling nodes, then the adaptability and resource allocation efficiency are improved, but the system requires emptying physical queues or disrupting traffic flow which worsens the continuity of operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic reconfiguration capabilityVSAvoidtraffic flow continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the queue mapping into two independent layers: physical queues and logical queues. This segmentation allows the logical queue layer to be reconfigured without affecting the physical queue layer, enabling dynamic reconfiguration while maintaining continuous traffic flow through the physical queues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces logical queues as an intermediary layer between physical queues and scheduling nodes. This intermediary allows reconfiguration of scheduling hierarchies by remapping logical queues to different scheduling nodes without requiring changes to physical queues or disruption of traffic flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional queue reconfiguration methods are used to add new queues or move queue ranges, then the scheduling hierarchy can be updated, but the operation requires emptying physical queues which increases loss of time and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequeue reconfiguration capabilityVSAvoidqueue setup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing logical queues and their mappings to physical queues before reconfiguration is needed. When reconfiguration is required, only the logical queue to scheduling node mappings need to be changed, not the physical queues themselves, eliminating the need to empty queues during reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a logical copy of the queue structure that mirrors the physical queues. This logical copy can be reconfigured independently without affecting the physical queues, allowing rapid reconfiguration without the time-consuming process of emptying and refilling physical queues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If physical queues are directly mapped to scheduling nodes without a logical queue layer, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for dynamic reconfiguration is worsened as any change requires disrupting existing mappings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequeue mapping structureVSAvoiddynamic reconfiguration ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the mapping relationship into two independent mappings: physical queues to logical queues, and logical queues to scheduling nodes. This segmentation adds a layer of abstraction that simplifies reconfiguration operations, as changes can be made in the logical queue layer without affecting physical queue structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The logical queue layer acts as an intermediary that simplifies reconfiguration operations. By introducing this intermediate layer, the system gains operational ease for dynamic reconfiguration while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of standardized mapping relationships.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9154437B2Dynamic reshuffling of traffic management scheduler hierarchy

Publication Date: 2015.10.06 MARVELL ISRAEL (M L S L) LTD

AI summary

There is provided a network device comprising a physical queue management processor configured to manage attributes of physical queues of data packets. The network device further comprises a scheduling processor which is configured to manage scheduling nodes that establish a scheduling hierarchy among the physical queues in a network, utilizing a bi-directional mapping of the physical queues to logical queues. The network device further comprises a traffic management processor which is configured to modify the bi-directional mapping mentioned above.